High upon the hillside, above the Grand Lake o' the Cherokees and the blooming, smattered out pieces of the hill, higher still than the road you cannot see from here, with narrow rolls of captured lands, rolling down and ending in the lake. From here to there are yards of thistle, yards of comfort, old store fronts that have been empty for years, and the last look before the water, is the collected graves of family and friends. Blackberry, Snake and Governors Islands all stretch the distance of time as well as fishing and swimming.
This hilltop retreat was one of laughter, caring of families, raising of children and late spring arrival and late fall leavings. The green-boarded small fence made places to rest, to take pictures of, and the settled iron chairs provided rest for the weary, out in the shade of large oaks and elms. Baskets made of hog-wire with rocks stacked inside, were the property markers of the houses.
The giant orange ball hanging on the left at the corner turn of the road, swung many a child a rocking away in the summers retreat. The porch of the trailer held Adirondack chairs that Mother kept painted, and held the backsides of those tired from the days play in the water down below. Pop was responsible for the leaves and the trees, and making it all look neat as a pin.
Time has rocked on, and Pop has made his heavenly journey, Mother is creeping up so quickly toward 87 and now us children are in our 60's, time is playing no favorites, but the memories are worth the tears.
Ralph Peck
Oil Painting By Geraldine Peck
Bernice Hill in the early 70's,
Bernice Oklahoma
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